Beginner

Suited for a wide range of uses, Level 1 Beginner telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.

This grab-and-go TableTop Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope provides powerful views of the Moon and bright planets such as Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars

Weighing just 6.5 lbs. assembled, this compact telescope and base can be taken just about anywhere to provide great views of the night sky while on road-trips, camping, or the short trip out to the backyard

Whoever coined the phrase "big things come in small packages", would have definitely applied that expression to the OrionStarMax 90 TableTop Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope. This ultra-compact Maksutov-Cassegrain gives surprisingly big views for an instrument of its modest size, making it an elegant first telescope or a pleasantly portable grab-and-go second telescope!

The long, 1250mm focal length (f/13.8) gives the StarMax 90 TableTop telescope some serious magnifying power. The included 25mm and 10mm 1.25" 3-element eyepieces yield powers of 50x and 125x magnification, respectively. The 90mm diameter Maksutov-Cassegrain optical tube collects over 25% more light than its GoScope 80 refractor cousin, and up to 225% more light than a traditional beginner's 60mm refractor telescope. With the advantage of additional aperture, you'll be able to enjoy excellent, detailed views of planetary delights such as lunar landscapes, Saturn's rings and Jupiter's moons through the Orion StarMax 90mm TableTop Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope. As you scan the Milky Way, you'll also be able to pull in sparkling open and globular star clusters, as well as a bright nebula or two.

The optical tube assembly of the Orion StarMax 90mm TableTop Mak-Cass Telescope is attached to a stable table-top swivel base, via a quick-release dovetail mount with adjustable altitude tension. The Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope tube can easily be removed from the table-top base to be mounted on an optional photo tripod. The small swivel base itself can also be mounted on a camera tripod with a 3/8" screw, in case there isn't a table near your preferred observing location.

The StarMax 90mm TableTop Maksutov-Cassegrain comes with a lot of great accessories so you can make the most out of each evening under the stars. An included Orion EZ Finder II red-dot reflex sight lets you aim the 90mm telescope with ease. The Maksutov-Cassegrain's smooth-adjusting internal focuser is a joy to use. The included 90° mirror star diagonal yields bright images and provides a convenient right-angle viewing orientation for comfortable night sky viewing. This compact, yet surprisingly capable, Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope weighs in at just 6.4 lbs. including the diagonal, one eyepiece, and reflex sight device, making it nice and easy for anyone in the family to transport.

Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for one year from date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. For complete warranty details contact us at 800-676-1343.

Warning

Please note this product was not designed or intended by the manufacturer for use by a child 12 years of age or younger.

User level

Level 1 Beginner - Suited for a wide range of uses, these telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.

Level 2 Intermediate - These scopes offer higher performance and more advanced features than Level 1: Beginner models. They typically take a bit longer to learn and need some set-up or adjustments. But anyone with the slightest technical bent will have no problem getting familiar with these models. Referring to the manual is recommended.

Level 3 Advanced - These scopes provide the best performance but may require more skill to master and appreciate. They have exceptionally fine optics and mechanics. Some are easy to use but are but on the large or heavy side. Some are intended for specialized uses. These scopes will appeal to the more technically inclined. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Level 4 Expert - Expert telescopes offer uncompromising optical and mechanical quality for the most demanding amateur astronomer. They may be technically involved or designed for specialized use, such as astrophotography or detailed deep sky observation. They carry a premium price, but are designed to provide the ultimate performance in the field. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Optical design

Reflector telescopes use a pair of large and small mirrors to direct incoming light to the eyepiece.
Refractor telescopes refract, or "bend" incoming light to a focus by means of an objective lens.
Cassegrain telescopes, such as Maksutov-Cassegrains, "fold" incoming light using two mirrors and a front "corrector" lens.

Optical diameter

For telescopes, the optical diameter (also known as aperture) is the size of a telescope's main light-collecting lens or primary mirror, measured in millimeters or inches. Telescopes with larger optical diameters collect more light, which leads to an increase in brightness and image resolution compared to smaller instruments.

For binoculars, the optical diameter (also known as objective lens diameter) is the size of each of the front-facing objective lenses of a binocular measured in millimeters. Binoculars with larger objective lenses collect more light, which increases image resolution and brightness. Binoculars with larger objective lenses are recommended for low light situations, and binoculars with at least 50mm or larger objective lenses are recommended for pleasing astronomical observations at night.

Focal length

The distance from the center of a curved mirror or lens at which parallel light rays converge to a single point. The focal length is an inherent specification of a mirror or lens and is one of the factors in determining resultant magnification for a telescope (along with the focal length of the eyepiece being used).

Focal ratio

The focal ratio of an optical system is the ratio of a telescope's focal length to its aperture. Short focal ratios (f/5, f/4.5) produce wide fields of view and small image scales, while long focal lengths produce narrower fields of views and larger image scales.

Optics type

Newtonian reflectors will have either a spherical shaped mirror, which is less expensive to produce, or a higher quality parabola, which does not result in spherical aberration. Cassegrain telescopes routinely use spheres in addition to other lenses in the optical path to correct for residual spherical aberration.
Refractors use a series of lenses to provide a clear image. Designs range from a standard air-spaced doublet (two lenses in a row) to exotic designs such as oil-spaced triplets and 4-element multi group lenses.

Resolving power

The theoretical resolving power of a telescope can be calculated with the following formula: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 4.56 divided by aperture of telescope (in inches). In metric units, this is: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 116 divided by aperture of telescope (in millimeters). Note that the formula is independent of the telescope type or model, and is based only upon the aperture of the telescope. So the larger the telescope's aperture, the more it is capable of resolving. This is important to keep in mind when observing astronomical objects which require high resolution for best viewing, such as planets and double stars. However, it is usually atmospheric seeing conditions (not the telescope) which limits the actual resolving power on a given night; rarely is resolution less than one arc-second possible from even the best viewing locations on Earth.

Lowest useful magnification

Lowest useful magnification is the power at which the exit pupil becomes 7mm in diameter. Powers below this can still be reached with the telescope to give wider fields of view, but the image no longer becomes brighter at a lower power. This is due to the fact that the exit pupil of the telescope (the beam of light exiting the eyepiece) is now larger than the average person's dark adapted pupil, and no more light can fit into the eye.

Highest useful magnification

The highest practical limit is different from the often used "highest theoretical magnification" specification. The "theoretical" limit generally is 50x the aperture of the scope in inches (2x the aperture in mm). So for example, an 80mm refractor is capable of 160x, and a 10" telescope is theoretically capable of 500x magnification.
But after approximately 300x, theory breaks down and real world problems take over. The atmosphere above us is constantly in motion, and it will distort the image seen through the telescope. This effect may not be noticeable at lower powers, but at higher powers the atmosphere will dramatically blur the object, reducing the quality of the image. On a good night (a night where the air above is steady and the stars aren't twinkling), the practical upper limit of a large telescope is 300x, even thought the theoretical limit may be much higher. This doesn't mean the scope will never be able to reach those higher "theoretical" powers - there will be that rare night where the atmosphere is perfectly still and the scope can be pushed past it's practical limit, but those nights will be few and far between.

Warranty

This warranty gives you specific legal rights. It is not intended to remove or restrict your other legal rights under applicable local consumer law; your state or national statutory consumer rights governing the sale of consumer goods remain fully applicable.

Orders received by 1pm Eastern Time for in-stock items ship the same business day. Orders received after 1pm will ship the next business day. When an item is not in-stock we will ship it as soon as it becomes available. Typically in-stock items will ship first and backordered items will follow as soon as they are available. You have the option in check out to request that your order ship complete, if you'd prefer.

A per-item shipping charge (in addition to the standard shipping and handling charge) applies to this product due to its size and weight. This charge varies based on the shipping method.

The Orion StarMax 90 Maksutov Cassegrain and Planetary Kit is perfect for exploring our solar system neighbors. The bundle includes the 90mm Mak-Cass, three telescope eyepieces, Shorty 2x Barlow, stargazers toolkit and a set of planetary filters.

Having trouble viewing details on the Moons surface? This neutral-density eyepiece filter reduces glare so you can see more detail and surface features. The 1.25" Orion 13% Transmission Moon Filter is especially useful with large aperture telescopes.

If you are an avid astronomer you know that you should always use red light instead of white to help protet your night vision. The Orion RedBeam II LED Flashlight has adjustable brightness which lets you observe without ruining your night vision.

This set gives you two of the higher powered Sirius Plossl Eyepieces, great for detailed views of the Moon and Planets. Included are the 7.5mm and 12.5mm telescope eyepieces. Both are multi-coated giving you sharp bright, clear images.

This solar filter fits the Orion StarMax, Apex 90, and Meade ETX-90. The 4.10" Orion Full Aperture Solar Filter is a must for safely viewing or photographing the sun's surface. Provides more contrast and more natural color than Mylar filters.

For cleaning the lenses in your telescope or binocular, the Orion Microfiber Optics Cleaning Cloth lifts dirt, fingerprints, water and oil from surface without scratching, streaking or smearing delicate lens surfaces. The cloth is machine washable.

If you only get one book to go along with your new telescope, make sure it's Turn Left at Orion! The perfect companion guide, it includes maps to nearly 100 of the best objects, and drawings depicting what they will look like through your telescope.

You've just bought your first telescope, but now what? The Orion Beginning Stargazer's Toolkit is the perfect addition! This best selling kit includes a planisphere star atlas, Discover the Stars book, Orion MoonMap 260, and a red flashlight.

At Orion, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and passion for astronomy and astrophotography with the amateur astronomy community. Visit the Orion Community Center for in-depth information on telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography. You can find astrophotography "how to" tips and share your best astronomy pictures here. Submit astronomy articles, events, and reviews, and even become a featured Orion customer!